PHYS131 Fall 2019 Jamal

BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
General physics PHYS 131 Fall 2022

Instructor: Dr. Jamal Ghabboun
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 274-1241 ext 2387
Office: Room S-04
Office Hours: As posted outside my office S-04. For the O.H, you can find me as well in
the physics lab just next to my office.
Introduction: This course is your first physics course at Bethlehem University and all students
in the Faculty of Science are required to take it. This course is the first of two General Physics
courses that will introduce you to the various fields of Physics. Students taking physics as a
minor subject should take PHYS 131 as early as possible.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of this course is to train the student to think accurately and
scientifically by applying the basic concepts and laws of mechanics to describe and analyze the
motion of particles.
Learning Outcomes:
After successfully completing this course the student should have acquired the following
knowledge and skills:
1. Know how to add and multiply vectors using Cartesian components and the unit
vectors (i, j, k) notation (Vectors).
2. Know how to describe the motion of a particle, its position, velocity and
acceleration, in one and two dimensions (Kinematics).
3. Know how to use Newton’s Laws to determine the motion of a particle
(Dynamics).
4. Know how and when to use the Laws of Conservation of Energy, Linear
Momentum and Angular Momentum (Conservation Laws).
5. Know and how to describe Simple Harmonic Oscillations.
There is nothing to memorize or learn by heart in this course. You are allowed to bring with
you to the final exam and to all tests one sheet of A-4 paper on which you can write all the
equations and material you think is important.
Prerequisites: Calculus will be regularly used in PHYS 131. Therefore it is important that the
student has finished MATH 141 or, at least, is taking it concurrently with this course.
Textbook: Physics For Scientists & Engineers, International student edition, 7 th edition, by J.
W. Jewet and R.A.Serway; It is very important that you acquire a copy of this textbook as soon
as possible at the beginning of the semester. This is an excellent standard book that is used all
over the world and it has nice figures and many sample problems that are solved in detail. You
should read the required chapters, especially the solutions of the sample problems, and solve as
many as you can of the exercises and problems found at the end of each chapter. This textbook
will also be used in PHYS 132, 244 and parts of 242.
2
Suggested References: There are many introductory physics books in the University Library
that deal with the topics to be covered in this course and are easy to read. The following is a very
short list of such books that can be used for additional problems and/or alternative solutions and
explanations:
1) Fundamentals of Physics, 6th Edition by D. Halliday, R. Resnick and J. Walker. This is an
excellent standard book that is also used all over the world and it has nice figures and many
sample problems that are solved in detail. It has a very similar approach to the recommended
textbook.
2) Physics from the ground up, by Carr & Weidner:
This is a more concise book than our textbook and is therefore useful if you have difficulties in
English. Its approach is however different and so the chapters are in a different order.
3) Physics, by Alonso & Finn:
This is a standard book on the same level as our textbook.
4) Principles of Physics, by Bueche:
This is a standard book on the same level as our textbook.
5) Mechanics, Berkeley Physics Course, Vol. 1, by Kittel et. al. :
This is an excellent book that is of a somewhat higher level than our textbook but it is good
reading for the student who wants to explore further the many new ideas introduced in the
present course.
You will need a functioning scientific pocket calculator that can do all kinds of arithmetical and
mathematical operations like square roots, exponentials and trigonometric functions (Sin, Cos,
etc…) .
Advice: You must spend a minimum of 4 hours of reading and problem-solving outside the
classroom for each chapter covered. It is important that you read each chapter and solve on a
regular basis the problems at the end of each chapter. Waiting for the last day before the exam
will not be useful. In case stuck or need assistance I urge you to come and see me during the
OFFICE HOURS listed above.
Exams: There will be a one-hour test held at the end of each three chapters taken. The exact
date of each test will be announced fairly in advance.
The Final Examination: will cover the whole material listed below.
Course Description: The course will be divided into four units, with each unit covered in a 3-4
week period. There will be a one-hour examination at the end of each unit as described above,
i.e. almost every 3 weeks.
3
Unit 1: Unit 3:
Chapter Sections Chapter Sections

1 ALL 7 1 to 5
2 ALL 8 1 to 6
3 1 to 5 9 1 to 7
Unit 2: Unit 4:
Chapter Sections Chapter Sections

4 1 to 6 10 ALL
5 ALL 11 1 to 5
6 1,2
Grading: The student will be evaluated as the following:
Homeworks, discussions, tests, projects, attendances 60%

Final Exam 40%
Exam Policy: You are allowed to bring one A-4 sheet of paper with you to all exams, including
the Final Examination on which you can write whatever material you think is relevant. The Final
Examination will cover all the material studied in this course from Chapter 1 to Chapter 13.
I hope that you will enjoy the course and wish a very good luck…..

PHYS131 Fall 2019 Jamal

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BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY

General physics PHYS 131 Fall 2022

Chapter Sections Chapter Sections

Chapter Sections Chapter Sections

Grading: The student will be evaluated as the following:

Homeworks, discussions, tests, projects, attendances 60%

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